Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Canada Day is celebrated on July 1st every year, and since it's just a couple of days away, I decided to share a few Canada Day facts.

On July 1, 1867, the three colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada (now the two provinces of Ontario and Quebec) were united into a single country within the British Empire with the British North America Act. Today this Act of Parliament is known as the Constitution Act. The Constitution Act granted Canada substantial freedom from England, although it remained a part of the British Commonwealth, and most Canadians continued to regard themselves as British citizens. The Dominion of Canada became a kingdom in its own right, although the British Parliament maintained some rights of limited political control.

The occasion was originally known as Dominion Day.

The first official celebration of Dominion Day was held in 1917, on Canada's 50th birthday.

Canada's centennial, in 1967, was the first widespread celebration of the day.

The national anthem, O Canada, was established on July 1, 1980.

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

On July 1, 1982, Canada received full and complete independence from Great Britain. Later that year, the name Dominion Day was officially changed to Canada Day.

Many Canadians had been celebrating Dominion Day or Canada Day since the late 1960s or earlier, but during the 1980s, it became ever more popular to celebrate with fireworks and large community events.

July 1, 1927 - the first national radio hookup by the Canadian National Railway.

July 1, 1958 - the first cross-country broadcast by the Canadian Broadcasting Company.